martin xuereb & associates

martin xuereb & associates, which trades under the short name MXA, is a design practice in Sliema that combines architecture with interior design under one roof. The studio works for people starting from a bare plot, owners who want to rework a home they already have, and clients with larger commercial or residential schemes in mind.

Its approach is deliberately open on style. The practice does not push a house look; it prefers to draw on a wide range of influences and fit them to the site and the person living there. For a UK reader browsing the architects in Malta listings, that makes MXA a useful name to know if you value a tailored result over a signature format.

What the practice offers

The services run from the first sketches through to the finished interior. Architecture and structural design cover the shell of a building: its layout, its massing and the engineering that keeps it standing. Interior design deals with the rooms inside, from space planning to finishes, and the practice also offers restoration, renovations, pools, landscaping and large-scale projects.

That spread matters in Malta, where a single property often needs several skills at once. A townhouse might need its stonework repaired, a new staircase, a reworked kitchen and a roof terrace with a plunge pool. Having architecture, interiors and landscaping handled by one team can reduce the number of people you have to brief. If you are weighing up the interior side separately, the interior designers in Malta directory, where MXA is also listed, shows other studios for comparison.

Recent projects

The practice shows three recent projects. Klay and The Avenue were both completed in 2022, and Strickland House is an ongoing job. The names point to a mix of work rather than a single building type, though the practice does not publish further detail here, so ask about scale, budget and programme when you get in touch.

If you like the idea of a heritage building given new life, think about where such houses stand. Valletta, the Three Cities and Mdina have some of the finest historic fabric in the Mediterranean, and our guides to historic Valletta, the Three Cities harbour towns and walled Mdina show the streets and stone that inspire much of Malta's restoration work.

Restoration, renovation, pools and gardens

Restoration and renovation are two of the practice's listed specialities, and they suit different goals. Restoration usually means repairing a building so that its original character is kept, for instance limestone walls, timber balconies or decorative floor tiles. Renovation is wider: it can reconfigure rooms, add services or lift a tired interior while leaving the structure largely as it is.

Pools and landscaping extend the same thinking outdoors. Malta's long, warm season, which you can read about in our Malta weather guide, means terraces, courtyards and gardens are used for much of the year, so the way they are shaped and shaded can matter as much as the rooms inside. Ask the practice how an outdoor space will work in summer heat and in winter rain.

For readers who are thinking of buying or refurbishing a property as part of a move, our guide to relocating to Malta explains the wider steps, and our overview of Malta gives background on the islands.

Working with the practice as a UK client

Many UK clients live elsewhere while a project runs, so it helps to agree early how updates will reach you. The practice invites new clients to describe their ideas through a request form: whether you are starting a new project, revamping a home or looking for ways to use a space better, you set out your plans and the team follows up to discuss them.

Before you write, gather what you have: a rough brief, photographs of the property or plot, any plans, and a sense of your timescale. If you are visiting to see the site, our where to stay in Malta guide helps you choose an area, and the hotels in Sliema page lists places a short walk from the practice's street.

Remember that fees are not published, so it is sensible to ask for a written scope of work covering which stages are included. Our Gozo guide is also worth a look if your project is on the sister island, as the practice can be asked whether it takes on work there.

Finding the studio and getting in touch

The studio is at 33 Triq Sir George Borg in Tas-Sliema, in the busy seafront town on Malta's north-east coast. Sliema is well served by buses and ferries, and it sits within easy reach of Valletta.

The simplest way to begin is to use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page. Tell us what you want to build or change, and we will pass your message to the practice so that it can reply to you directly.